A cardiac patient at St. Vincent’s Medical Center has received Fairfield County’s first implantation of the Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (S-ICD), a new life saving procedure for irregular heart rhythms.

Additional Treament Options for A-Fib

Prescription Medications help to to control the heart’s rhythm. Blood thinning medications help to prevent a stroke.

A pacemaker is a small device, about the size of a pocket watch, that is placed under the skin near your heart to help control your heartbeat. People may need a pacemaker for a variety of reasons , but mostly due to an abnormal heart rhythm.

ICD: You may need an ICD, a pager-sized device implanted in your chest, if you have a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a chaotic heartbeat that does not permit your heart to supply enough blood to the rest of your body (ventricular fibrillation). ICDs work by continuously monitoring your heartbeat , detecting and stopping dangerous, abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias, and delivering electrical shocks to restore a normal heart rhythm when necessary.

Biventricular Device Implants-These implants improve the symptoms of congestive heart failure and overall quality of life in certain patients with severe symptoms that aren't controlled with medication.

“Mini-Maze” Minimally Invasive Surgery-The latest ”mini-maze” (short for minimally invasive ) surgery performed in the OR at St. Vincent’s is totally thorascopic, or performed through endoscopes or flexible tubes inserted into two keyhole incisions on each side of the chest. A tiny camera and video-guided instruments are then inserted into the endoscopes to reach the heart and create a maze-like pattern of scarring or ablation with radio frequency energy. This interrupts the electrical impulses that initiate A-fib.

Comprehensive A-fib Program

St. Vincent’s is the only hospital not just in the state but in the tri-state area to offer a comprehensive program with both the non-surgical and "5-box TT Maze" minimally invasive surgery treatments to correct atrial fibrillation, also known as rapid or irregular heartbeat. Learn more about St. Vincent's comprehensive A-fib program.

Electrophysiology Lab

EP studies, pacemaker and ICD placement, and trans-catheter ablation are all performed in our state-of-the-art Electrophysiology Lab (EP Lab).

St. Vincent’s is one of a few area hospitals to offer an EP laboratory that is nationally certified to meet stringent quality standards.

Contact us

To find a St. Vincent’s physician who can discuss your health concerns or those of a loved one, please click on our FIND A DOCTOR tool and search by specialty, practice, location or keyword. We’re here to help you locate the medical expert you need.

To speak with a St. Vincent's Care Line representative, call (877) 255-7847

To speak with somone at the front desk of the Medical Center, please call (203) 576-6000